Grzegorz Rasiak hungry to score for Reading FC

Grzegorz Rasiak's brace against Coventry City has put him back on course to winning a bet with his manager Brendan Rodgers.

Grzegorz Rasiak's scored a brace for Reading FC away at Coventry City on Saturday

Grzegorz Rasiak's brace against Coventry City has put him back on course to winning a bet with his manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Poland striker scored after 31 seconds at the Ricoh Arena, his quickest career goal ever, and after the game Rasiak revealed that if he reaches his personal target this season, Rodgers will have to cough up and treat him to a slap up meal of his choice.

The £300,000 summer signing from Southampton said: “I do have a goal target for the season and I've got a bet with the manager for who buys dinner, so hopefully I can reach it.

“But I don't want to say too much, if I achieve it I will tell you. I want to play the best I can for the club. The most important thing is to see Reading climb higher up the table.”

Reading climbed out of the relegation zone with their most complete performance of the season at the home of the Sky Blues and ended their woeful run of four league defeats on the bounce.

It was only Royals’ third league win of the season and lifts the pressure off under-fire Rodgers.

And now Rasiak has his sights on turning things around at the Madejski Stadium where Royals haven’t won in the Championship since January 27, a run that totals 16 games.

“After four defeats it's so nice to win. We played well against Leicester City, but came away with nothing, but this time we scored three good goals and I was so pleased go get a couple myself.

“I'm just delighted but the most important thing was to get the three points because the table looks much better now. Now we hope to end our bad record at home next weekend and we will be ready for Ipswich.

“I'm delighted for the fans who travelled up, they still supported us very well. They deserved the victory and this one was for them.”

The 6ft 3ins target man now has three goals from his four Championship starts in a Reading shirt after he linked up with former Watford ace and team-mate Jobi McAnuff, who in turn scored Royals’ second goal at the Ricoh.

McAnuff crossed for Rasiak inside the first minute for him to head Rodgers’ side into an early lead and from there Royals grew in stature and confidence throughout.

“I remember scoring in the Polish league in the second minute but this one was even quicker,” continued Rasiak.

“It was a great start and I thought we deserved the three points. We probably created more chances against Leicester, but didn’t score, yet we got three goals at Coventry. Football is funny like that.”

Rasiak also hopes that his goals for Reading will also net him another run in his countries international set up, allowing him to add to his 36 caps and eight goals.

He added: “We have a new manager now [Franciszek Smuda]. Over the next two years we mainly have friendly games before we build towards Euro 2012.

“Hopefully if I am playing well I will get a call. But the most important thing for me is to keep going and play well for Reading.”